Despite increasing defense spending and imposing sanctions, European Union countries continue to rely heavily on Russian liquefied natural gas, providing Russia with a significant source of revenue to fund its war in Ukraine.

European Dependence on Russian Energy

A recent analysis of commercial shipping data reveals that European countries spent roughly €5.96 billion, or about $6.8 billion, on Russian liquefied natural gas in the first six months of 2026. This dependence on Russian energy undermines efforts to weaken the Kremlin and limit its ability to wage war in Ukraine.

The European Union has adopted legislation to phase out Russian gas imports, with a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas under long-term contracts set to take effect on January 1, 2027. However, the continued purchase of Russian liquefied natural gas provides Moscow with billions of dollars in export revenue, contradicting the EU’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy.

US Response

The United States has criticized Europe’s continued dependence on Russian fuel sources, with President Donald Trump stating that Europe has spent more on Russian oil and gas than on defending Ukraine. The US has also increased its own energy production, becoming the world’s largest producer and exporter of oil and natural gas.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.